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We're looking for reports on tonight's WWE house show in Trenton, NJ and the TNA house shows tonight in Woodstock, VA and last night in Barton, VA at
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WWE runs its second show in Paris tomorrow for the end of the Smackdown European tour. Raw will be in Wheeling, WV.

Raw on Monday is in Columbus, OH, while Smackdown and NXT are taped on Tuesday in Toledo.

Has the WWE gotten rid of the brand extension? A look at the decisions that have been made, and haven't, is one of a number of lead stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The issue looks at the timing of the decision to put Raw & Smackdown talent together on television, the good, the bad, as well as how it worked out in every segment of Monday's show. We look at what led to the change, the good points of it and the bad points. We also look at why the brands were split in the first place.

We also look at the change to putting the first C.M. Punk vs. HHH match on Night of Champions, including what the original plans were, and attempting to decipher some decision making that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. We also look at the live Smackdown show on Tuesday and the importance of that.

The issue is available today on the site. If you can't find them on the front page, you can always access the latest issues of the Observer on the front page by clicking on the Archives tab at the top. You can get a mail subscription to the Observer with information below. The Observer has the most detailed coverage of pro wrestling around the world, as well as insider UFC coverage not available anywhere else. We have about 14 new newsletters each month, usually six Observers, four or five Figure Four Weeklies and four or five back issues of the Observer each week. We also have a lengthy feature on the trials and tribulations of Ric Flair, looking at his ups and down over the past few years, the recent article on his life and putting a perspective on the different stories. We talk about everything from his loans, his health, how he's viewed locally, family issues, tax issues, business, how he ended up in TNA, politics and his future.

We also have a lot more notes about the UFC/Fox deal, including more details on how the major shows will be presented, a new show idea being talked about, an e-mail sent by Fox to the people in charge at the various affiliates, what celebrity played a major hand in convincing Fox to make the deal, and who really is the No. 1 network in the U.S. right now.

We also have a feature on UFC's return to Brazil, including the business of the show, the return to Brazil, the unique crowd, MMA in Brazil as well as a comparison between Anderson Silva, GSP and Fedor Emelianenko on who really is the greatest fighter of the modern era. We look at all three with their overall record, their record against top opposition, finishing ratio and domination ratio.

We also look at early returns on PPV, TV ratings both domestically and internationally, as well as what people thought of the Edson Barboza vs. Ross Pearson decision. We also have match-by-match coverage along with poll results from the show.

We also have tons more regarding the future of the Sin Cara character. We look at everything that happened, from every vantage point as WWE has put a new person in the mask. We look at the potential future of the character, as well as the future of Mistico, where Mistico went wrong, the benefits and drawbacks of HHH in his corner and all the thing that really did him in and frustrations with him.

We also have an update on Rey Mysterio after surgery, Dwayne Johnson talks about why he returned and we note when he first seemed to be considering it strongly.

We also have a lot of WWE business notes, regarding the C.M. Punk angle an its effect on web site views and merchandise business.

We also have updated numbers from this past year's WrestleMania, including where it stands on the all-time list.

We also look at a philosophical change with a WWE character and why, a new signing, as well as HHH's real life business title and what he was just awarded financially.

We also have a number of current and one former WWE performer and twitter message issues.

We also look at why one major star of the past is not part of the WWE video game, as well as all the business notes from the past week in WWE and highlights from the live arena events.

We also look at a former American pro wrestler in Japan, actor and MMA fighter, and details of the gruesome crime he was just convicted of.

We also look at Japanese wrestling, with two major shows head-to-head over the weekend and 28,000 fans attending wrestling in Tokyo. We look at the different approaches, the big modern stars, and a look at "All Together Now" a joint product of All Japan, New Japan and Pro Wrestling NOAH, with all kinds of intriguing tag team matches. We also look at Antonio Inoki's IGF show, featuring legends of the past in pro wrestling, MMA and kickboxing as well as notes on who the new names are, in a promotion that has already picked up two former WWE performers as regulars.

We've also got a look at what the Money in the Bank buy rate tells, with comparisons from July of the past two years both foreign and domestic, the value of the C.M. Punk push at least initially, what it says about B PPV shows and comparisons with last year's Money in the Bank.

We also have our usual weekly features including ratings for all the major national shows, broken down the segment-by-segment for both Raw and Impact, showing which segments gained and lost viewers and evaluated their performance from an audience level.

We also have results from all the major league pro wrestling and MMA events over the past week, as well as reviews of all the major television shows. The Wrestling Observer ranges from 25,000 to 40,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA all over the world.

Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sites and has the most complete look at the business as a whole anywhere. The Observer is now in its 29th year of being the leading insider pro wrestling publication in the world. The biggest and most influential names in the pro wrestling industry as well as the MMA industry, from bookers, to promoters to Hall of Fame wrestlers and fighters to the biggest current names, both on camera, and behind the scenes, along with thousands of readers in all 50 states and 30 countries subscribe. Many have subscribed as long as 20 years or more straight. They get the most detailed and inside coverage of what is going on all over the world and an accuracy from having the most inside sources that can't be found on the web. Everyone from Wall Street to the major offices to the TV networks in U.S. and Japan turn to the Observer for what is going on in the business. If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today. Just send your Visa or Master Card order with your name, address, phone number, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to
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or you can order by faxing that information to 408-244-3402. You can also subscribe via paypal at www.paypal.com and using the
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address or subscribe via check, cash or money order, as well as credit card, by mail, by sending to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228.

Also in this week's issue:

--Major challenges building to CMLL's anniversary show

--Two major international stars coming to CMLL this month

--Former WCW wrestler and star for more than 20 years tells promoters he's retiring shortly

--Sting's possible debut in Mexico

--Next Dragon Gate iPPV show

--Notes on All Japan's jr. tournament

--Matt Hardy's downward spiral

--Remembering 70s woman's wrestling star Donna Christantello

--Death of Mando Lopez and story of his match with Terry Funk when Funk was champion

--Shane Helms problems

--Pro wrestler was in the news in connection with a gangland style murder

--More on the return of Bill Goldberg, details on the dates and place and what is behind his return

--More on Wrestling Revolution, a new Internet based wrestling television series

--Notes on the in-ring death of an independent wrestler last week

--Promotion telling talent it'll be on U.S. national TV very soon

--Lance Storm talks his health scare

--Update on Scott Hall

--Former TNA knockout arrested

--Former TNA wrestler talks about past drug addiction and new line of work

--Update on ROH next iPPV show

--Lots of notes on the TNA taping in Huntsville

--Reaction to Jeff Hardy and his performance and demeanor

--Update on the next TNA PPV as well as Bound fro Glory

--More notes on the finals of the Bound for Glory series

--Who looks to be the favorite

--Hulk Hogan's new business and details of the presentation including some other pro wrestlers involved with the show

--Hogan talks why TNA is different from WWE

--Two more TNA cuts

--Eric Bischoff's latest court fight

--Kurt Angle discusses his plans to return to amateur wrestling

--NBC TV show featuring a TNA wrestler because of the connection to 9/11

--TNA performer gets outside gig because of a resemblance to an 80s entertainment star

--We also look at ticket sales for the upcoming UFC shows and what changes have been made

--What show is expected to be the biggest for the rest of the year

--More notes on the history of MMA piece regarding the 50s and the 90s and some famous fights

--More on the UFC/ESPN relationship

--Notes on Alistair Overeem

--Strikeforce heavyweight title

--A look at the career decision made by Marloes Coenen

--Quinton Jackson talks there being a spy in his camp for Jon Jones

--Lots of new UFC matches and card changes

--Bellator gets another TV outlet for the fall season and how much clearance it has

--What would be the biggest match in Bellator history being negotiated

--A look at the first round of Bellator's on-paper best ever tournament

--Kazushi Sakuraba fighting again, and his next opponent

--The return of Pro Elite

--Daughter of a famous American movie producer faces daughter of an infamous Japanese murderer and why it really was a mismatch

New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major story (ies) of the past 11 years you are most interested in and we'll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We've got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue. Our most requested issues in our history are:

*November 17, 1997 (full details of everything leading to the most famous wrestling match finish of modern times at the Survivor Seriesplus a history of in-ring double-crosses)

*December 21, 1998 (the complete Vince McMahon-Bret Hart conversation right before the Survivor Series match so you'll know exactly what was said--the conversation played in edited form both on the inaugural broadcast of Confidential as well as in Wrestling with Shadows, buteverything that was said between the two about the match that was going to take place that same night)

*May 13, 2002 (the life story of the most incredible pro wrestling career ever, a look at Lou Thesz, in one of the largest issues of ourhistory) *January 27, 2003 (part one of the two-part series covering the career and life of The Sheik)

*February 3, 2003 (Part two on The Sheik including thoughts from people who worked with him and where he stands historically)

*April 21, 2003 (history of WWF continues with the expansion nationally, the death of the regional territories and the rise of HulkHogan)

*May 12, 2003 (The life and death of Elizabeth, and the rise of fall of Lex Luger)

*June 9, 2003 (Part 1 of history of WWF vs. WCW wars and what many say was the greatest year in U.S. wrestling; plus a look at Fred Blassie)

*June 16, 2003 (Freddie Blassie through the eyes of his biggest rivals and friends)

*July 28, 2003 (Part 2 of the history of the WWF vs. WCW war and the plans to make new superstars in the early 90s, what happened, and thenight where the three biggest wrestling companies in the world combined for a joint show and what happened)

*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the controversial career of Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit as well ashistorical features on Earl Caddock and Francisco Flores)

*September 22, 2003 (Part 3 of the history of the WWF vs WCW war with the seeds that caused the collapse of the industry in the 90s,Zahorian trial, Gulf War controversy, Flair leaves WCW while holding world title and much more)

*October 27, 2003 (The fascinating life of Stu Hart plus the story of Road Warrior Hawk)

*February 23, 2004 (History of Guerrero family with Eddy's win over Brock Lesnar)

*March 1, 2004 (History of WWF continues with the period that brought the company down in early 1992, the mistakes, the real stories and how the business changed)

*March 8, 2004 (History of Wrestlemania, its greatest matches and best and worst shows as voted both by wrestlers and non-wrestlers andWrestlemania history books)

*July 5, 2004 (A look behind the scenes and Ric Flair's book and his background with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan)

*July 12, 2004 (A look at more on Ric Flair's book and his comments on Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart and Mick Foley)

*August 16, 2004 (History of the Olympians in pro wrestling)

*August 23, 2004 (2004 Hall of Fame issue and biggest issue of the year with huge profiles on Kazushi Sakuraba, Undertaker, Bob Backlund,Masahiro Chono, Ultimo Dragon, Kurt Angle and Tarzan Lopez--this counts as one issue if you are asking for a free issue, but orderedseparately, due to size, is $6 in North America and $7 overseas)

*October 4, 2004 (the life and times of Big Bossman; as well as details of the life and times of one of the most influential men worldwide in pro wrestling history, Jim Barnett)

*November 15, 2004 (the full story of what happened between Kurt Angle and Daniel Puder, plus coverage of the most important week in thehistory of TNA)

*January 24, 2005 (2004 Awards issue, Rock and WWE part company)

*March 14, 2005 (the 50 biggest money players in the history of WWF and a look at theirHall of Fame)

*May 9, 2005 (the life and times of Chris Candido)

*June 20, 2005 (The full story behind Paul Heyman and the death of ECW, as well as coverage of One Night Stand, Hardcore Homecoming andbehind the scenes of both shows)

*July 18, 2005 (death of Shinya Hashimoto and his records with a look at the fall of New Japan, the Matt Hardy angle, tons of WWE firings,Cornette firing in detail as well as problems of a WWE developmental territory in our biggest news issue of the year which is adouble-sized issue and would be $6 on its own and $7 overseas)

*January 9, 2006 (The life and times of Superstar Billy Graham, plus New Year's Eve 2005 coverage)

*January 16, 2006 (2005 Awards double issue, $6 or $7 overseas)

*April 3, 2006 (Story of Ann Calvello and the history of Roller Derby--many called this the best issue of the Observer ever)

*April 10, 2006 (Behind the scenes at the 2006 Wrestlemania/Hall of Fame week)

*July 24, 2006 (The History of the Von Erichs and World Class Championship Wrestling--the most unreal story ever in wrestling)

*September 4, 2006 (The Rise and Fall of Kurt Angle; 2006 Hall of Fame inductions of Eddie Guerrero, Paul Bowser, Masakatsu Funaki, Aja Kong and Hiroshi Hase including tons of wrestling history around the world from the 20s through the 60s, the evolution of working to not workingin Japan, and a look at Guerrero in hindsight, double issue $6 or $7 overseas)

*October 9, 2006 (A look back nine years later at the life and legacy of Brian Pillman with tons of inside information about what made himtick as his real objectives)

*November 15, 2006 (History of WCW part one, Eric Bischoff's book and how the industry was changed forever)

*November 27, 2006 (History of WCW part three, When Bischoff challenged McMahon to fight; Truth and fiction around Bret Hartsigning with WCW and why it didn't click)

*December 6, 2006 (details behind Pride's offers to sell promotion and Part four of History of WCW part four, Hogan-Goldberg match and whythere was no rematch, WCW loses NBC network deal in 1999 and the real reasons the company fell apart)

*August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers and MMA fighters who went to the Olympics)

* September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas; part one of Killer Kowalski bio)

* September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)

* September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our most in-depth bios)

You can also order any of these issues on their own for $4 in North America or $5 overseas.

Rates are:

For the United States, it is $12 for 4 issues, $29 for 12, $55 for 24, $91 for 40 and $118 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $13.50 for4, $33 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to
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. For the rest of the world, rates are $15.50 for 4, $41 for 12, $78 for 24, $126 for 40 issues and $163 for52 .

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

We now have available personally autographed copies of Tributes II, our latest book, as well as a DVD that comes with it talking moreabout the subjects in the book. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz, Wahoo McDaniel, Elizabeth, Fred Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk,Andre the Giant, Curt Hennig, Johnny Valentine, Davey Boy Smith, Terry Gordy, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, The Sheik and Tim Woods. To get all of those biographies as back issues of the Observer would be a $60 value today. This is a collection of some of the bestObserver articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that is 239 pages. There is also a foreword by Bret Hart. The book price is $12.95 plus $3.50 for shipping costs in the U.S., $10 for shipping costs to Canada and $12 for shipping costs outside NorthAmerica. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.

--A note on the TNA rating from Thursday. Obviously this week was very important because it was on the road, and it's important those ratings are up because Spike is paying a lot more for production. It not being up wasn't a good sign, particularly given Jersey Shore was in rerun (Jersey Shore seems to have no Impact on TNA's rating, however, since even when Jersey Shore does monster numbers, TNA usually had its highest quarter of the show head-to-head and not unopposed), there was no national NFL game and the only college game on ESPN only did 1.9 million viewers. If anything, the coast was clear to do an above average number. And Hulk Hogan was all over the show, Kurt Angle vs. Sting was the main event for the world title. While Ric Flair was not on the show, nobody watching the show would have known that until the show was over, since Sting was in the TV main and if he was running it, that would be where you'd expect him to. And things aren't likely to get better later this year when you've got NFL games on Thursdays.

--Bellator's Eddie Alvarez will be on next week's Impact, pushing the opening of the new Bellator season. Seems, well, interesting. Spike TV execs were with him the entire time. It should be noted Joe Warren was on TNA in the past, the Bellator was plugging TNA even on MTV 2, virtually every week last season.

--They may be renaming Raw "Raw Supershow." At least last night when they were plugging Monday's show, that was the same being used.

--Kurt Angle has changed his mind. He's now happy about being ranked No. 34 in that WWE DVD from months back. "I want to apologize to everyone that I disrespected with my comments about WWE's rankings. I truly am proud to be in top 50. Thank U 2 WWE."

--Alberto Del Rio is back, as last night in San Juan they did the deal where he wrestled both C.M. Punk and John Cena on the same night.

--We've had people asking about this name for months. John McCarthy will be a guest on Wrestling Observer radio on 9/28. So start sending Bryan your questions for John. There is nobody who is more of an authority on the early days of UFC and the history of the company than McCarthy, who was at UFC I, and started with the company at UFC II. I've mentioned this before, but his book, "Let's Get It On," just came out earlier this week. If you are a UFC fan and want to know the history, and a very honest look at the trials and tribulations of the early days, you'll want a copy.

--A press release has been sent out making a show official that we've written about for weeks in the newsletter. The new promotion UAPWM (USA To Africa Pro Wrestling Mission) debuts in October with a tour to Congo culminating in "Rumble in the Jungle II" on 10/12 in Kinshasa, Congo. That's the same city that hosted "Rumble in the Jungle," one of the legendary boxing promotions of all-time where Muhammad Ali beat George Foreman. Shows are planned in Katanga, Mbujimayk, Goma, Bukavu, Lubumbashi and finishing in Kinshasa. Three shows will be at outdoor soccer stadiums. Announced for the big show at Martyrs Stadium is Bill Goldberg coming out of retirement in the main event, plus appearing will be George Foreman, Laila Ali and Jean Claude Van Damme. There will be both a PPV and DVD releases of the show, as well as a feature film planned of the event according to the release. We'll have a lot more on this in the next Observer. There is material listing Goldberg

--Do you think Junior Dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez will set the all-time MMA ratings record for the U.S.?Yes 58.7%No 41.3%

--What do you think of Dos Santos vs. Velasquez as the first FOX main event?Best choice given the options that were available 32.9%Bad to give that fight for free during a period when you are trying to sell PPV with less attractive main events 26.9%Best possible choice no mater what 18.6%Not the best choice for ratings, but will be an awesome fight so it will be a good first impression of the sport 13.6%Not a good choice because neither have a big enough name 6.2%Not a good choice because I don't think they'll have a good match 1.9%

--Poll on ImpactExcellent 27.0%Good 22.2%Average 10.3%Fair 9.5%Poor 31.0% 47.1% of those responding didn't see the show.

--FOX is already into promoting not just 11/12, but during the fifth inning of the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds game today, Kenny Albert read a 20 second promo with a graphic of Velasquez vs. Dos Santos, date, Anaheim, etc. and also mentioned the 9/24 PPV show with Jon Jones vs. Rampage Jackson. (thanks to Dan Atwood)

--Chuck Langerman's daily wrestling trivia. Entertainer Jerry Lewis has been in the news since he was dropped as host of the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. Lewis grew up in Irvington, NJ, the same home town as Larry Simon, who became Professor Boris Malenko, the father of Joe & Dean. Also from Irvington High were Dana Owens, who became Queen Latifah, who was a power forward on a girls basketball team that won the state championship in the 80s, and Raheem Morris, the head football coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

--Brett Rogers will face Eddie Sanchez in the main event of the 9/23 Titan Fighting Championship show in Kansas City at Memorial Hall that will air on HDNet. Rogers was fired by Zuffa after his domestic assault charge regarding his wife.